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Azalea's sophomore studio album, Digital Distortion, was initially set to be released on 24 June 2016, with its lead-single "Team", being released in March 2016. However, the album was postponed several times in 2016, with Azalea initially addressing the delay due to her stint as a judge on the eighth season of The X Factor Australia, and later adding that she also delayed the album to include a collaboration with Russian-German DJ Zedd. Eventually, the album was postponed to 2017, since Azelea claimed she experienced both personal and creative changes. In March 2017, she released the song "Mo Bounce" as a single, however the song was a commercial lackluster.

Quickly afterwards, Azalea teased a snippet of a song in an Instagram video with the caption: "IGGY X ANITTA" in early April, indicating that she was collaborating with Brazilian recording artist Anitta. Later in the same month, they were seen together in the studio to finish the track. Eventually, Azalea revealed that the track was called "Switch" by posting its cover art on 2 May 2017. In the cover art, she is "staring into the camera while wearing a one-piece maroon bathing suit," as described by Billboard's Gil Kaufman. It was released digitally on 19 May 2017 by Def Jam Recordings, and was sent to both contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary radio on 23 May 2017.

"Switch" was recorded by Azalea in August 2016. However, she needed a female singer to sing its chorus and spent months trying to find a fitting voice, claiming she wanted to think outside the box. In a radio interview with Zach Sang, Azalea discussed the track, adding: "I couldn’t think of who should sing on this song with me because I just really wanted to bring another female energy. I didn’t really have any female collaborations yet on my album and I think people really enjoy me collaborating with other women and I wanted to make sure that I still did that." She continued talking, saying that a friend of hers suggested Anitta to sing the chorus. While watching Anitta videos on YouTube, she was impressed by her stage presence and dancing skills, and commented: "[...] I hit her up and asked if she would be interested in doing the song and it just kind of worked out perfectly." Anitta's part on the track was only recorded in February 2017, where Azalea helped her with the song's cadence and spelling of some words. In another interview, she described Anitta as a "very unapologetic and strong but super feminine. We clicked straight away."

Mike Wass of Idolator called it a "feel-good anthem," adding that "Switch" has a massive chorus, bone-rattling beats and endlessly quotable lyrics. It’s proof that the 26-year-old has finally discovered a sound that plays to her strengths." Joel Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly agreed, classifying it as "a summer-ready club banger" with an "easily danceable chorus." Lindsey India of XXL wrote that the song "could easily become a pop party anthem this summer, while Melody Chiu of People named it "powerful". Joshua Espinoza of Complex opined that the song "uses the same formula as Iggy’s breakout song "Fancy", noting that it has "infectious beat," a "catchy hook" and "cocky lyrics."

Kick in the door, wave in the four fizzy
They already know they can't fuck with Iggy
Truce got smart and the rent due, you know that
All black when I come through, it's Kodak
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Is Iggy the ziggy-iggy the baddest of 'em all?
Why you come through and shut down the mall?
All that ass deservin' applause

[Anitta (Iggy Azalea):]
Change the game (Change it up, change it up now)
Switch it up again (Switch it up, switch it up now)
Then I go again (Here we go, here we go)
Play your role, play your ro-o-ole
Fantasy (Fantasy)
Turns reality (Turn reality)
Right in front of me (Right in front of me)
I can have it anyway I want

[Iggy Azalea:]
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!
This is 'bout the time you recognize that I'm that
Bitch!
This is all that sauce your mama said you couldn't
Get!
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!

Me and my boo on a worldwide hustle
You know what it is when I flex that muscle
I don't even know what a real one do
Talk that talk, I can back it up too
Got yo dessert, call me the waiter
I'm flirtin', you'll get it later
You can get it from the inside out
No hands, you can put it in your mouth

[Anitta (Iggy Azalea):]
Change the game (Change it up, change it up now)
Switch it up again (Switch it up, switch it up now)
Then I go again (Here we go, here we go)
Play your role, play your ro-o-ole
Fantasy (Fantasy)
Turns reality (Turn reality)
Right in front of me (Right in front of me)
I can have it anyway I want

[Iggy Azalea:]
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!
This is 'bout the time you recognize that I'm that
Bitch!
This is all that sauce your mama said you couldn't
Get!
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!

It's Iggy bitches
What you want?
What you want want want?
Switch it up
[?]
He don't love you, that ring ain't big enough
If they talkin' that money I'm showing up
My account getting bigger it's growing up
And I'm still a motherfuckin' rockstar
Popstar but we roll with the mobsters
Yacht club on the shore eating lobster
While I'm stunting in Geneva with my top off

Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!
This is 'bout the time you recognize that I'm that
Bitch!
This is all that sauce your mama said you couldn't
Get!
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!

Red light, yellow light, green light
This is 'bout the time you recognize that I'm that
This is all that sauce your mama said you couldn't
Red light, yellow light, green light
Switch!